KAPOLEI — Only a handful of residents turned out this morning for the first of five public hearings on the draft environmental impact statement for Honolulu's proposed rail transit project.

A majority of those who signed up to speak said they were in favor of the project, although more seemed to prefer an Airport Alternative route over the Salt Lake Alternative route that the City Council selected in early 2007.

Additional public hearings are scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. on:

• Monday, December 8, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, Hawaii Suites, 777 Ward Avenue.

• Tuesday, December 9, at Salt Lake District Park, 1159 Ala Lilikoi Place.

• Wednesday, December 10, at the Filipino Community Center, 94-428 Mokuola Street.

• Thursday, December 11, at Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street.

Residents can comment orally (three minute time limit per person) or in writing. Each relevant comment will be reviewed and considered when the Draft EIS is revised into the Final EIS in 2009.

In addition to public hearings, residents can comment at www.honolulutransit.org or in writing to the Department of Transportation, 650 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813. The public comment period ends Jan. 7, 2009.